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Norma J. Morris
Aug. 24, 1929 -- March 6, 2006
Norma J. Morris died in her Sequim home of pulmonary-cardiac arrhythmia. She was 76.
She was born in Rorkton, Manitoba, to Norman Ross and Amy Jardine (Chapman) Tate.
She married
Robert V. Morris on Nov. 25, 1954, in Calgary, Alberta.
In addition to being a homemaker who lived in numerous locations throughout the United States and Canada, she was an artist and a member of the Bridge Club in Sequim.
Mrs. Morris is survived by her husband as well as sons and daughters-in-law Bob and Nan Morris of Atlanta; Ross and Sandy Irvine of Waynesville, N.C.; Clinton and Lee Anne Morris of Casa Grande, Ariz.; and sons Scott Morris and Brad Morris, both of Sequim.
Also surviving are daughter and son-in-law Tammy and Jim Gollyhorn of Cheyenne, Wyo.; brother and sister-in-law Ross and Verna Tate of Edmonton, Alberta; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services: Saturday, March 11, 10 a.m., memorial in Olympic View Church of God, 503 N. Brown St., Sequim. Pastor Dennis Ackley will officiate. A reception in the church will follow the service.
Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel is in charge.
Richard L. Vargas
May 24, 1927 -- March 6, 2006
Richard L. Vargas died in Port Angeles at age 78. Cause of death was pending.
He was born in Hayward, Calif., to Louis Richard and Ada Elizabeth (Moffitt) Vargas and graduated from high school in Salinas, Calif.
While serving in the Army, he was a sergeant in charge of three mess halls at Camp Roberts, Calif.
Mr. Vargas worked for Montgomery Ward for 40 years, specializing in interior design and advertising.
He was also a chef who partnered in three restaurants, including helping his sister with Granny's Cafe west of Port Angeles.
In addition to being a bird and animal lover who enjoyed not only flocks of doves but his parrot, Japer, and his Jack Russell terrier, Rusty, Mr. Vargas liked art, luxury cars, remodeling and home decorating.
He is survived by Edward D. Winstead, his partner of 46 years.
Services: April 8, 1 p.m., memorial in Granny's Cafe, 235471 Highway 101, Port Angeles. Drennan-Ford Funeral Home, Port Angeles, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials: Charity of choice.
HERBERT (HERBIE) RAY BURGE
Herbert (Herbie) Ray Burge of Forks passed away March 2 at Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles at the age of 57.
Herbie was born May 18, 1948, in Miltonvale, Kansas, to Wilmer and Irene Burge.
Herbie lived in Concordia, Kansas, where he was active in the American Legion.
He moved to Forks in 1986.
Herbie helped out at the family business, The Hang-Up Tavern. Herbie enjoyed riding around town on his scooter.
He touched a lot of lives in his 57 years. He liked spending time around people.
Herbie had a wonderful smile and personality. He will be greatly missed.
Herbie is survived by his mother, Irene Roark; two brothers, Harvey Burge and Steve Burge, both of Forks; one sister, Debbie Kola of Hoquiam; and 11 nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wilmer Burge; three brothers, Ray Lee, Howard and Leroy Burge; one nephew, Harvey Jr.; and his stepfather, Glen Roark.
Melissa Ann Graves
Family recalls wife, daughter who perished in SUV fire
PORT TOWNSEND -- Melissa Ann Graves was an active, forthright, vibrant woman who made people feel at ease, and loved family and children.
She openly embraced the world, and was fond of flower gardening and her two pet Schipperkes.
``She was just an incredible woman. The beauty, the charm, the heart, it was all there, " said Lawrence Graves, her husband of more than 10 years.
Lawrence, joined by Melissa's parents, Dennis and Georgeanne Nichols, stoically celebrated through their memories Melissa's life.
She died Saturday night on Morgan Hill when the SUV which she was driving burst into flames.
Melissa was 36 and carrying the couple's first child.
``She had the ability to meet with people, to connect with people, to make them feel like they were her best friend, " Lawrence said at his Port Townsend home.
``She had a heart of gold, and was always smiling."
Born in Seattle
Melissa Nichols was born March 23, 1969, in Seattle, living her first nine years there before the family moved to Spokane.
She graduated in 1987 from University High School in Spokane Valley and then attended Western Washington University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in English.
Upon graduating in 1991, she went to work for WestOne Bank in Seattle as a workplace banking employee.
She met Port Townsend native Lawrence Graves in 1994 while he was a commercial lender in the company's Renton office.
``We talked on the phone as she was mailing out letters to my customers, " Lawrence said.
``We had a very short courtship. We both knew it was right."
Melissa at first turned Lawrence down when he asked her for a date.
Reluctant to have another relationship with a banker.
Still, they met as friends, he said.
Lawrence finally won her over when a coincidence occurred.
A friend of Melissa's told her she had to meet a really nice guy by the name of Lawrence.
Married in 1995
They married
on Sept. 23, 1995, at Sun Mountain Lodge in Winthrop and honeymooned on Lawrence's old tugboat.
They lived together in Seattle from 1995 to 2003, until Lawrence accepted the general manager's job with Frontier Bank in Port Townsend.
By then, Melissa had left banking and worked for five years for Microsoft in Redmond, often telecommuting from the Graves' new home in Port Townsend.
``We bought it in 2001 with the idea that we would be able to fix it up and move up here, and have the quality of life we didn't have in Seattle, " said Lawrence.
``We were very excited about getting out of Seattle, simplifying life and enjoying life together.
``It was very important for her to enjoy life to the fullest."
Melissa was active, hiking, camping and boating with her husband.
Young girl was active
Her mother remembers a young girl who enjoyed snow skiing, water skiing and playing tennis with her family.
Her father was active with her in YMCA Indian Princess, a father-daughter youth program. Melissa's nickname was ``Little Clover."
She attended summer camp at Camp Sealth on Vashon Island and as a youth became a camp counselor there.
Melissa's most recent job was with the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program of Jefferson County, where she helped children.
At home, she loved her two Schipperke dogs, Bandit and Addy.
``They were her children, " her mother said.
Georgeanne said Melissa, a woman with many obstacles in life, overcame them all.
``She was strong-willed and independent, " her mother remembers.
Lawrence looks back at his wife as someone ``without a mean bone in her body" and with few dislikes.
Besides her husband Melissa is survived by her father and mother of Leavenworth; her grandparents, Howard and Erline Ratzman of Sequim; and her sister, Staci Zenonian of Enumclaw.
Services: A memorial service for Melissa Ann Graves is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Community Church, 13474 Airport Cutoff Road, with the Rev. Skip Cadorette of First Baptist Church officiating.
The family asks that donations be made in lieu of flowers to the Seattle Diabetes Association, Metropolitan Park East, 1730 Minor Ave., Suite 920, Seattle, WA 98101.
Kosec Funeral Home in Port Townsend is handling funeral arrangements.
Vera Guptill Franz
July 18, 1942 -- March 4, 2006
Former Jefferson County resident Vera Guptill Franz died in Evergreen Hospice Center, Kirkland, of renal cell cancer. She was 63.
She was born in Port Townsend to Cecil Weymer and Ruth (Young) Guptill, and began working in her father's sporting goods store at age 11.
She attended Port Townsend High School and graduated from Edison Technical School.
After graduating from college, she was employed in the banking industry.
Her marriage to Douglas Franz ended with his death in 1994.
She married
Wallace Franz on Oct. 18, 1997.
Mrs. Franz, who was a member of First Presbyterian Church, lived in Port Townsend and Port Ludlow before moving to Kirkland two years ago.
In addition to her husband, survivors include daughter and son-in-law Vicki and Scott Martin of Beaverton, Ore.; sister Joy Guptill and sister-in-law Tash Johanneseen, both of Port Townsend; and four grandchildren.
Survivors also include stepsons Chet, Eric, Chris and Andrew Franz, and stepdaughter Suzanne Greathouse, all of Seattle.
Services: Saturday, March 11, 1 p.m., graveside committal in Laurel Grove cemetery, 598 Discovery Road, Port Townsend. Kosec Funeral Home, Port Townsend, is in charge of arrangements.
Charles Edward Maxwell Jr.
April 15, 1939 -- Feb. 19, 2006
Charles Edward Maxwell of Beaver died of cancer in Tacoma. He was 66.
He was born in Seattle to Charles Edward and Helen June (Shilton) Maxwell Sr.
At age 5, he began service as a Jehovah's Witness door-to-door, and at age 14 was baptized in Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y., at the July 1953 International Convention of Jehovah's Witness.
After graduating from high school, Mr. Maxwell worked at a bakery in Lewiston, Idaho, in 1953-57.
In 1958-61, was a volunteer binder at his church's publishing house in Brooklyn Bethel, N.Y.
Mr. Maxwell moved to Port Angeles in 1961 and worked at Sanderson's Bakery on Lincoln Street
Mr. Maxwell married
Anna Bernice Kepler in Port Angeles on July 10, 1965.
Moving to the West End, Mr. Maxwell served as an elder in the Forks congregation of Kingdom Hall until his death.
Also on the West End, he was employed by Prairie Shake, Mason Lumber and Walsh Trucking as a busheler and truck driver. He and his wife also worked together in metals salvage.
He enjoyed fishing and scuba diving.
Survivors include his wife of 40 years; sons Roger Maxwell of Chester, Daniel Nathan Maxwell of Glenoma and Andrew Jay Maxwell of Port Orchard; daughters Selena Estelle Henry of Port Orchard and Heidi May Yarborough of Midland, Texas; and his mother, of Port Angeles.
He was preceded in death by his father, son Johnathan Edward Maxwell, and daughters Barbara Anne Maxwell and Charlene Marie Maxwell.
Services: Memorial was held in the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Forks.
Mr. Maxwell donated his body to cancer research through Science Care of Phoenix; there will be cremation.
